Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva boxing main event set for Oct. 29 in Glendale

José M. Romero, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
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Anderson Silva and Jake Paul are set to face off at Gila River Arena in Glendale on Oct. 29, 2022.
Anderson Silva and Jake Paul are set to face off at Gila River Arena in Glendale on Oct. 29, 2022.
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Jake Paul made a name for himself on YouTube, then showed he can truly fight when he defeated two former UFC competitors, including former champion Tyron Woodley twice, in three boxing bouts last year.

Now the 25-year-old Paul, a former teenage actor and millionaire who once filmed a video of looting in Scottsdale after the death of George Floyd, is coming to Arizona again, this time for a boxing match against former UFC superstar Anderson Silva.

The fight will take place on October 29 at Glendale's Gila River Arena, soon to be Desert Diamond Arena, and will air on Showtime Pay-Per-View. Paul (5-0, four knockouts) has wins over Woodley, former NBA player Nate Robinson and former MMA fighter Ben Askren.

Silva, 47, holds the UFC record for the longest title reign in the organization’s history at 2,457 days. The Brazilian nicknamed "The Spider" has the most consecutive UFC victories with 16 and the most finishes in UFC title fights with nine. He compiled a 34-11 record with one no-contest, then switched to boxing last year and defeated former middleweight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a split decision.

Jake Paul (left), hits Tyron Woodley with a punch during the third round of a cruiserweight boxing bout on Dec. 18, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Paul's boxing match at Madison Square Garden next week has been canceled after his promotional team said opponent Hasim Rahman Jr. did not intend to honor the contracted weight limit.
Jake Paul (left), hits Tyron Woodley with a punch during the third round of a cruiserweight boxing bout on Dec. 18, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Paul's boxing match at Madison Square Garden next week has been canceled after his promotional team said opponent Hasim Rahman Jr. did not intend to honor the contracted weight limit.

"Every expert, from MMA to boxing, has said Jake Paul won’t fight Anderson Silva. They said Jake Paul is afraid of Anderson Silva, and Jake Paul would lose to Anderson Silva," Paul said in a statement from Showtime and Most Valuable Promotions. "Well, to all the non-believers, Jake Paul is fighting Anderson Silva. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to share the ring with the greatest UFC striker of all time. On Saturday, October 29, I will walk humbly into the ring, touch gloves with a living legend and do my best to exterminate ‘The Spider.’”

Paul said he'll be doing charity work in the Phoenix area through his Boxing Bullies foundation.

Silva said he believes "this will be the biggest combat event of the year and will truly make history in the sport forever."

The fight will take place at a catch weight of 187 pounds. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on Sept. 14, with Paul and Silva headed to the Phoenix area next week to promote the fight.

Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM. 

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva boxing event set for Oct. 29 in Glendale